UPDATE: The definitive word on Pablo Sandoval’s foot injury

UPDATE, 3:00 p.m.: Turns out everybody was correct, at least a little bit.

Pablo Sandoval

Ross D. Franklin/AP

Manager Bruce Bochy said, and head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner confirmed, that Pablo Sandoval’s current injury is a strained perineal tendon on the outside of his left foot. Bochy said the club is optimistic that Sandoval will be able to play when his 15-day stint on the DL is over.

So where did all the fracture stuff come from?

Groeschner said that tests revealed on old, healed fracture in the general area of the tendon, but an MRI showed that not to be the cause of Sandoval’s pain.

Sandoval will wear a walking boot for a week as he rests the foot, but Bochy and Groeschner said the third baseman will be working hard during his time on the DL. They have told Sandoval to ramp up his conditioning and lose weight while he is sidelined. With no games to play, Sandoval can work out extensively with no fear that he will be worn out when the first pitch is thrown.

Let’s talk about this weight thing.

Common sense tells you that the more weight you carry, the greater the toll on your back and legs, whether you are an athlete or not. But to flat-out say this injury was caused by Sandoval’s weight is just talk-radio folderol.

Many athletes who could model in swimsuit calendars get foot injuries. On this team alone, Barry Zito and Andres Torres have dealt with significant foot injuries. Plantar fasciitis is common in sports because of the cleats that players wear. The Giants and other teams have foot specialists at their disposal because of how common these injuries are.

Look, Sandoval is overweight. As Groeschner said, “He knows he needs to lose some weight.” But how about injecting a little sanity into the discussion?

No, Sandoval’s weight did not cause his hamate bones to break. Yes, his weight could have been a factor when he did the splits at first base last year and hurt his hamstring. Yes, weight might have been an issue with this injury.

But to just say, “He hurt his foot because he’s fat” is just stupid.

Asked if Sandoval’s weight will prolong his recovery, Groeschner said, “I don’t think it will impact how the injury heals, but he’ll continue to work on it in the meantime.”

Bochy said Joaquin Arias will get a lot of playing time at third base in Sandoval’s absence, but the manager also said — swear to God — that he might “ham and egg this until Pablo gets back” by mixing and matching Arias, Nick Noonan and Tony Abreu.

Angel Pagan (hamstring strain) is eligible to come off the DL on Wednesday, but Bochy said that is not likely to happen.

UPDATE, 12:00 P.M.: Giants president Larry Baer said on 95.7 today that Pablo Sandoval has a hairline fracture in his foot. The Twitterati also tell me Brian Sabean said the same thing on the show previously known as “Chronicle Live,” with Jim Kozimor.

More later, obviously.

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE, 12:25 p.m.: I’m now told Sandoval does NOT have a “hairline fracture” in the foot. Head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner will clarify the situation during batting practice. The Giants officially are calling it what they have been calling it, a left foot “strain,” and formally announced Nick Noonan has been recalled from AAA.

ORIGINAL POST: Nick Noonan’s stay in Fresno was brief. He was there long enough to go 3-for-5 in a 10-1 win over Tucson.

This morning, he is on his way to Pittsburgh to rejoin the Giants, who are likely to place Pablo Sandoval on the disabled list with that lingering foot sprain.

If so, I imagine Noonan and Joaquin Arias will share third base. Manager Bruce Bochy will provide all the details, but I think Arias will be first among equals because he has more experience. In other words, I’m no sure it’ll be a left-right platoon. But we’ll see.

Noonan’s big-league career got off to a nice start, but his average fell to .203 with limited playing time. The team optioned him to the minors so he could play every day.

It’s a warm, cloudy day in Pittsburgh. Accuweather predicts a dry night tonight but rain Wednesday and Thursday.

Check back here for more details on Sandoval, Noonan, Juan Perez’s bounceback from that collision with the all in Arizona later in the day.